Machine tool for processing crankshafts

Details Machine tool for processing crankshafts Machine tool for processing crankshafts

1999-11-03

2001-05-08

Wellington, A. L. (Department: 3722)

Tool changing

Including machine tool or component

Rotary spindle machine tool

C483S055000, C483S031000, C483S003000, C409S165000, C408S051000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06228007

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a machine tool for processing crankshafts and in particular drilling oil holes as oblique drill holes in crankshafts.
Crankshafts display a plurality of main bearings along their main axes and lifting bearings at the cranks. To lubricate the lifting bearings, oblique drill holes are produced which extend from one lifting bearing through the offest to the main bearing. Such drill holes are relatively long and the production of these holes requires very accurate oblique alignment of the crankshaft.
A machine tool for producing drill holes in crankshafts is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,759,140. This machine tool comprises a workpiece carrier with two clamping devices which allow two crankshafts to be processed synchronously. The workpiece carrier can be pivoted around a horizontal transverse axis and it can assume such an inclined position that the horizontally aligned and horizontally guided tools hit upon the crankshafts at the desired drilling angle. To produce a plurality of drill holes at different locations along the crankshaft, the spindle box is controllably displaced in vertical direction. Drill bushings are associated to the tools (drills) inserted in the spindles. The tools and drill bushings are taken from a tool magazine and can be automatically exchanged.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the invention is to create an improved machine tool for processing crankshafts with horizontally aligned spindle, which is simplified in spatial and kinematic aspects.
In the machine tool of the invention the workpiece carrier is rotated around a vertical axis to produce the oblique drill hole. Thus the crankshaft is always kept in horizontal alignment and is not pivoted around a vertical axis. The required oblique angle is adjusted on a horizontal plane. Hence the crankshaft is fixed with the crankshaft plane being aligned horizontally whereas the inclined position is obtained by rotating the turntable. This reduces the space required in particular for processing and exchanging the crankshaft. The turntable which can be rotated around a vertical axis always retains the crankshaft in horizontal alignment so that it is possible to advance and insert the crankshaft with horizontally extending longitudinal axis.
According to a preferred development of the invention the turntable is supported by a horizontal slide which can be controllably moved in horizontal direction. Said horizontal slide allows incremental movement of the crankshaft from one drilling location to the next. This advance movement is effected by displacement of the workpiece (crankshaft) while the position of the spindle box transversely to the axial alignment of the spindle remains unchanged. The movement of the horizontal slide, which comprises the workpiece carrier, is easier, more accurate and rapid to control due to the lower mass involved so that a corresponding movement of the spindle box in transverse direction is not required.
Preferably the spindle box arrranged at a vertical slide is vertically movable along a fixed post between a working position and a lifting position. At the level of the lifting position a tool magazine for direct transfer of tools to and from the spindle is arranged. During the processing the spindle box always remains at the level of the working position. The spindle box can be vertically adjusted since the drill holes to be produced are normally not located in the bearing centre. Further, the vertical adjustment allows the spindle box to be moved into a lifting position in which it cooperates with a tool magazine. This tool magazine is located above the processing plane so that the tools in the tool magazine can be easily exchanged during operation.
According to a preferred development of the invention it is envisaged that the spindle box comprises for each spindle a drill bushing holder which contains an exchangeable drill bushing and can be moved in longitudinal direction independently of the associated spindle. The drill bushings guide the drill and are placed against the workpiece. The drill bushing holders comprise their own actuators by means of which they are moved out of the vertical slide up to the respective location of the workpiece. While the workpiece, together with the spindle box, is moved in axial direction of the spindle, the drill bushing holder projects from the vertical slide carrying the spindle box. This ensures that the drill bushing remains in its position during the advance movement of the drill. Longitudinal adjustment of the drill bushing is necessary to adjust the drill bushing to the respective distance of the crankshaft arranged in inclined position on the horizontal plane.
The tool magazine comprises a first circulating magazine for tools and a second circulating magazine for drill bushings. Preferably the two circulating magazines are controllably actuated independently of each other in such a way that different tools can be aligned with the same drill bushing. Normally the tools are subjected to heavier wear than the drill bushings. It is thus possible to use one and the same drill bushing for a plurality of tools. The independent control of the two circulating magazines allows tools and drill bushings to be combined in any way desired.
Preferably the workpiece carrier comprises two clamping devices arranged one above the other so that two crankshafts arranged side by side and one above the other can be simultaneously processed.


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Publication of Veet Industries, May 1958, “New Features of Superlative Quality Distinguish The Low Cost Veet 3 Foot Radials”.

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